rO:\[AT()E]IINE SKUA. 
A few words descriptive of the Plates may perhaps he of service : — 
In Plate I. arc figured two young birds of tlie year, representing the light and dark forms, shot at sea off 
Yarmouth on the 9th of Novemher, 1879. 
The state of plumage shown hy the light form of this Skua during the third year is given in 
figure 1, Plate II., the sketch having been taken from one of the captives towards the close of the summer 
of 1881. This specimen corresponds precisely with the Skua previously referred to as shot hy the master 
of a fishing-lugger off the Y'orkshire coast in October 1872. During all the years I have knocked about 
in the North Sea not a single Skua in a wild state exhibiting this stage of plumage has come under my 
observation; it is probable that the young birds, after reaching their winter-haunts (wherever they may 
be), seldom visit our shores during the two following years. Pigures 2 and 3 in the same Plate are also 
taken from the birds kept in confinement, and show the state of plumage at the time of their death (19th of 
September, 1882), when a few months over three years of age. Pomatorhine Skuas in imperfect plumage, as 
previously stated, are usually met with off the Scotch coast somewhat in advance of the mature birds, many 
that are seen in August bearing a strong resemblance to those represented by figures 2 and 3. 
The dark and li"ht forms of the adults are shown in Plate III., the former having been obtained along 
the sliore near Y^arrnouth on October 30tb, 1879, and the latter at sea off Caistcr the following week. 
